Clive Amos

Thursday, 2 March 2017

Junk just gathers dust
Web designers are in the business of selling web designs. That is the first principle of business for a web design firm, as it is for many other types of businesses. There is nothing new here except that the whole purpose of a web site is to create business for the owner, and a site just gathering dust does not do that.

No one says that a web design needs to create direct sales for any business but it must connect with the business owner's market and engage that market. If the site doesn't connect with the market it is just junk collecting dust. It may be a beautiful piece of work but it's still collecting dust.

Part of this problem is our responsibility as small business owners. We didn't go to a web designer and say, "I need a web site designed for my web market."

Instead, most small business owners say, "I need a web site designed for my business."

Our market doesn't care about us
The difference is about the focus our words create and the intent that gives to a project. And when the focus is on our business it is not on our market. Thus, we end up with something we are thrilled with even though our market is not impressed and doesn't care.

What our market cares about is their problem, not the looks of our web site. They are not going to share our web site with others because it looks cool, but they will share when our business web site helps them and educates them about our industry and how to make the best choice for their needs.

Because leadership is ubiquitous. It is all around us. It is of primary importance. Yet, it is seemingly underserved, undervalued and under resourced. Need some proof?

According to the Development Dimensions International 's Global Leadership Forecast 2008/09 (1) from research of 1493 HR professionals and 12,208 business leaders across 76 countries:

75% of business leaders identified that improving or leveraging of leadership talent was their #1 priority.
Only 41% of business leaders are satisfied with the help they get to develop leadership capabilities.
One of the core needs within organizations is to create a sustainable supply of quality leaders.
The primary skill shortfall amongst organizations is in leadership skills and interpersonal skills.
Leadership is a leaking bucket. All organizations, large and small, from the family to local sport team to government to the boardroom of a leading global company, will at some time need to replace leaders. This arises from necessity and/or from natural attrition. From the information above, there is clearly a pervasive problem or, in a more positive tone, there is an opportunity - an opportunity to address this chronic shortcoming. How?